BayWa r.e. becomes Italy’s largest service provider

BayWa r.e. has acquired Energy Systems Services (ESS) one of Italy’s leading renewable energy operations management and maintenance businesses. The acquisition now makes BayWa r.e. the largest service provider in Italy.

"The acquisition of ESS means BayWa r.e. is able to provide a broader range of services, with extensive capabilities in wind farm operations and maintenance, as well as in HV/MV substations. ESS also has significant experience in the design and construction of civil and electrical works. I’m extremely pleased to welcome the ESS team onboard and very much look forward to working together”, comments Alessandra Toschi, Managing Director of BayWa r.e. Italia Srl.

Francesco Paolo Liuzzi, formerly Managing Director of Nordex Italy for 10 years, joins BayWa r.e. as Managing Director of ESS and will work with ESS’s original founders who will remain with the business.

Ludovico Lombardi, one of ESS’s two founders, commented: "We are proud to be joining a leading global business like BayWa r.e. The skills we bring are highly complementary and will help drive both businesses forward. As well as additional services, ESS strengthens BayWa r.e’s geographical reach across Italy and together I feel we are now unrivalled in the range and quality of service provision we can offer the market.”

The acquisition further strengthens BayWa r.e.’s position as one of Europe’s leading service providers and follows the acquisition of leading UK service provider Green Hedge Operational Services Limited earlier this year.

BayWa r.e. has also seen recent expansion of its services business into Australia, Africa and central America.

“It’s a very exciting time for our services business as we see sustained growth in core European markets and expand globally”, adds Tobias Bittkau, Global Head of Operation Services.

As investors seek to ensure assets are optimised, so service provision is now highly sophisticated. New maintenance techniques, such as drones with thermal imaging, advanced data analysis and increasing digitalisation are just some examples. We also see asset owners preferring to partner with single providers who can meet all their needs across portfolios. The acquisition of ESS, means our ability to meet this demand in Italy is now unmatched.”

BayWa r.e. renewable energy GmbH (BayWa r.e.):

As a full subsidiary of BayWa AG, BayWa r.e. renewable energy GmbH groups together the activities of the solar energy, wind energy, bioenergy and geothermal energy business units. With headquarters in Munich, BayWa r.e. is active worldwide. As a full service partner with around 1,300 employees and more than 25 years of market experience, BayWa r.e. provides consulting services and develops, implements and manages projects in the area of renewable energies. The company also covers plant operation and maintenance. Other business activities encompass photovoltaic component trade and the purchase and marketing of energy from renewable sources.

Its parent company, BayWa AG, is an international trade and services company with the core segments of agriculture, energy and building materials.